"Ay, Yoyo, you are going to be the one to bring our name to the headlights in this country! That is a beautiful, beautiful speech I want for your father to hear it before he goes to sleep. Then I will type it for you, all right?"
–“Daughter of Invention,”
Julia Alvarez
In this passage, the mother tries to use an English idiom about having one’s name in lights, which means to be famous. Instead, she says that Yoyo will bring their name “to the headlights in this country.”
What does the mother’s language reveal?
What does the mother mean to express about her daughter Yoyo?
The mother's language reveals that she is not fluent in English and may struggle with idiomatic expressions.
The mother means to express that she believes her daughter Yoyo will become famous and bring recognition to their family. She sees potential and success in Yoyo's abilities, and wants to share her admiration and pride with her daughter's father.
The mother's language in this passage reveals that she is not fluent in English and is likely a non-native speaker. She attempts to use an English idiom but mistakenly uses "headlights" instead of "lights." This suggests that she may not have a strong grasp of idiomatic expressions in English.
The mother means to express that she believes Yoyo will become famous or achieve recognition in their new country. She sees potential in her daughter and wants her to succeed and bring honor to their family name.
The mother's language reveals that English is not her first language and that she is likely not fluent in English idioms and expressions. Instead of using the correct idiom "to have one's name in lights," she mistakenly says "to bring their name to the headlights in this country." This suggests that the mother is not fully assimilated into the English-speaking culture and may struggle with understanding or using idiomatic expressions.
In terms of what the mother means to express about her daughter Yoyo, it is clear that she believes Yoyo has the potential to achieve fame or success in their new country. By stating that Yoyo will bring their name "to the headlights in this country," it implies that the mother sees Yoyo as someone who will make a significant impact and become well-known. The mother's emphasis on wanting Yoyo's father to hear the speech before going to sleep also suggests that she considers Yoyo's achievements as important and worth celebrating.